Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-03
THE STORY OF A CATERER.
How Appearances Are Kept Up
Among a Certain Glass.

~ RRC0h ahaCCs fhhS
Among a Certain Glass.
Probably one OF the busiest and at the
seme time least ostentatious OF trades.
men of this city, is he whose business Is
TO minister to the large class OF people
afflicted with an itch for social dIstlnc.
ton. The business of furnishing ap-
pearances for the public has sprung into
one of considerable magnitude during
the past few years. Prominent among
this class of tradesmen is the house
furnisher. On the front door of three
story brick house, on cross street, near
Fifth avenue, is a large silver plate,
bearing name which, for divers reasons,
will be called civilian Brown, caterer"
A reporter recently called, and asked
for Mr.. Brown.
sMr. Brown has just gone to DIR.
Blanks, aud will return shortly. Won't
you step in and wait?' responded port.
ly woman in white wrapper.
The reporter was shown into wait.
ing.room or office i'll the rear OF the hall.
The walls were ablaze with oil paintings
hung one above the other and side by
side, as in an auction store. In black
WALNUT CdOtutb, oSSo fAoA ehS -.
tire side of the room, was large variety
of silver aud plated service, water urns,
cake baskets and receivers and flower
vases.
..Is your husband very busy at this
season. asked the scribe.
"very busy, indeed. He has to ar
range Tor several parties o-day and to-
morrow, and LIE has orders Gu his books
for several weeks TO come.
The answer was hardly given when
the proprietor entered--a tall, slender
man, about forty years of aSe-with
hurried steps. In few words the OBJ.
ject of the interview was stated. and MIR.
Brown, seating himself on an easy lounge,
said:
II have been a caterer for good
many years, but it was so until few
years ago that was compelled to fur.
nish so many things that are foreign to
my business. IL would surprise the
public to know to what extent this is
carried ON, not only by seemingly
wealthy people. but by families who at
one time rated among the highest in the
city, who, like every body else, have felt
the depression of business and are no
longer able to entertain as formerly. As
business increases great demands are
made upon us to furnish interior decora-
tions, until / really believe l shall be
asked next to furnish house and lot.
The once rich family who entertained
enormously are too proud to acquaint
the outside world with the actual state
Of affairs. and through the artifce Of
our assistance seemingly retain their
| former standing. On the other hand
we have the relics of ancestral prosperi
ty, who themselves have never had
WEALTH, but endeavor to mislead theil
rich nelghbors with the idea of apparent
affluence."
Taking o memorandum book from hi
pocket, air. Brown said: "You see hert
I have three parties for tonight. Thi'
last one is on Forty.second street, wher'
| l will furnish carpets for three rooms or
| the second floor. Come with me up
stairs aud will select them and show
you the different articles which l an
compelled to keep, and you can mak'
your own observations"
In q back room, from line stretched
along the side of the ro nm, hung twenty
or more carpets of different sizes ant
patterns. On the other side of the room
stood a grand aud square piano, whil
from the ceiling hung many handsom
chandeliers of various sizes.
"Do you often furnish chandeliers?
swell, no. not very often. Probabl,
three or four times year, but mus
have them on hand. We have regula
system of carrying on our business
When party is to be given, and it doe
not take place among persons OF assured
social position, the givers come to me
for they have not the appliances, an
very often not the furniture for party
Even Delmonico. when catering for a
} outside party. has frequently to furnis
these decorations, and keeps llttl
J stock of furniture and decorations O.
hand. You see, the frs. thing l fin
out is the size of the party and hoy
many plates will be required. The
comes the paraphernalia. l make out
list of the number of chairs that al
wanted, tablecloths, napkins, knives an
forks, spoons-for you must understan
that there are many people living in uI
town mansions who have scarcely NOR
than enough of such things for thei
own use"
"As to silver, is it solid or plated?'
'sThat depends great deal on circun
stances, When q man calls on me
furnish breakfast, dinner, supper Q
luncheon, l make sure that be is n
sponsible. If / don't know his circum
stapces-and you must remember ths
his living in a brown stone front is n
} evidence of his means-I require refel
ences and a satisfactory deposit
: advance. II his references are tirst.rat'
give him the best silver plate in tn
house; if not, l use the cheap set
which l keep for Just such customers.
"Do you lose much in this way?"
az have never lost any plate, wit
the exception of occasionally knife {
SO, or some spoons, but these are lab
to get lost in the dishwater.
"Are the eatables prepared at yoi
house?"
"Oh, no. My customers are divides
/ might say, into three classes. The fir
/ do all their own cooking, with The e.
|, ception of very difficult dishes; the ne1
, are those who require me to do all IL
! cooking, and the last are those who PR
vide the plainest dishes only. The
last are the genuine shoddies. The
rent big houses and very seldom ha'
anything hey ond the simplest fare, say
on the occasion of party. remembe
one of these families who gave a wei
ding party few months ago. ltr
quired nearly two loads of furniture
present the appearance desired. Th
, included piano, chanelier, painting
statuary, lounges, a crimson parior Sc
carpets, lace curtains, and even CLOCK
OF course, they had great deal of fu
niture in the house, but it was OF til
plainest kind and very threadbare. J
cost them large sum of money to Civ
the party, but they paid every dollar
it,"
Chow much do you charge for you
services?'
$50 much head. Then it depend
nm how much silver is wanted; wha